The LEGO NINJAGO Movie 70618 Destiny’s Bounty review

With two previous versions of Destiny’s Bounty, plus the many wonderful LEGO ships released over the years, can The LEGO NINJAGO Movie 70618 stand out? 

Price: £119.99 / $159.99 / €169.99 Pieces: 2295 Available: Now

It is arguably the most recognisable vehicle/location in LEGO NINJAGO, and appropriately has made the jump to the big screen in The LEGO NINJAGO Movie. With a higher piece count – and price – than ever before, 70618 Destiny’s Bounty has the opportunity to finally be realised in a way that can satisfy fans like it never has before.

There has never been a ship like this one. You can trust me on that, I have them all. Every Pirates ship, every previous version of Destiny’s Bounty, and a host of other seagoing vessels from years gone by. 70618 Destiny’s Bounty is special, and it is a set you will not want to miss.

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Destiny's Bounty-2

In recent years, the LEGO Group has experimented with variations on the classic ship design made famous by the Pirates theme of the late 1980s and early 1990s. 70810 Metalbeard’s Sea Cow was tall and rooted in Steampunk. Captain Salazar’s 71042 Silent Mary brought fans a LEGO ghost ship. 70618 Destiny’s Bounty is both the first proper junk style ship, as well as the vessel with the widest deck to date – achieved by the fact that she gets wider, not narrower, as her bow rises from the water. There has also never been such a craft with such a richly detailed interior both in her cabin and below deck.

At the time of writing, the movie is still months away – but all indications are that this vessel serves as the floating home of Master Wu. Comprised of three levels, all of them are devoted to making the old sensei comfortable. The lowest section of the hold, accessed by lifting off two large deck panels which lie behind and in front of the centre mast respectively, includes a bedroom, weapons room and toilet.

Designers gave a lot of attention to detail including small desks, photos and other memorabilia tucked into various corners. Off the main deck, a training/meditation room including more weapons, a bust and scroll – perhaps containing the ancient code of the ninja – are all on display. Here again the designer nailed it, with a rare and perfect choice of colours supplemented by intricate stickers on the outside. Climbing the ladder, a detail some ships have omitted, brings a minifigure to the upper deck with gorgeous arching rooftops achieved via garage doors appearing for the first time in tan.

What sets Destiny’s Bounty apart is the sheer number of interesting build techniques that it incorporates. First and foremost, the hull itself. Unlike other ships, it starts at a standard width consistent with the moulded hull pieces that the LEGO Group has used for years. As it rises, the hull widens more in keeping with an aircraft carrier than a schooner. This, combined with the fact that it does not have to incorporate cannon wells, allows for the most spacious deck ever produced in a LEGO set.

This space is put to good use with a combination of domestic features such as garden boxes and fishing poles paired with more aggressive attributes such as hidden weapon compartments. The unique curving rails are achieved through a very clever combination of hinges and brackets. I very much appreciate the attention to accessibility – many past ships have left it to the imagination how sailors moved from deck to deck. Ladders connect everything on Destiny’s Bounty.

Further detail abounds with lanterns, a huge spyglass, architectural details, flags and more – the ship’s deck is a feast for the eyes. A final highlight is the dual dragon heads at the front of the ship. These beautifully constructed pieces make fantastic use of pearl gold parts to achieve a distinctive aesthetic.

There are so many possibilities for a set like this. Unlike most of the other The LEGO NINJAGO Movie sets, 70618 does not contain any sci-fi attributes. It looks just as natural in its home world of NINJAGO as it would in a historical Pirates scene. Fit it with some cannons and it could easily be modified into a far eastern pirate ship. For AFOLs, Destiny’s Bounty could make an eye catching display or an outstanding component of a scene – whether in a historical setting or as a floating Chinese restaurant.

Bottom line, there are a lot of crossover possibilities with this model that add to its value. I was disappointed by only one aspect of this set – the minifigures. While there are a decent number of them, six in total, that feels weak in comparison to other sets in the range. 76011 Water Strider, at one fifth of the price, includes just two fewer figures. None of the minifigures here are exclusive and there are no bad guys. Considering every other set from the theme, save the smallest, comes with at least one enemy warrior this is a bit of a disappointment. That said, the overall perfection of Destiny’s Bounty more than makes up for this niggle.

Without reservation, this set is recommended for both AFOLs and children. There was universal excitement when images of Destiny’s Bounty first emerged and that has proven to be completely justified. Claiming multiple top spots in various categories of ship attributes, the dizzying array of building techniques coupled with playability and display potential combine to create a set that is truly fabulous. Considering its size and piece count it also offers incredible value for money. The only weak spot is the minifigures, but this really is a minor quibble. This is a great place to begin your collection of The LEGO NINJAGO Movie sets.

This product was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

70618 Destiny’s Bounty is available now at shop.LEGO.com. You can help support Brick Fanatics’ work by using our affiliate links.

More The LEGO NINJAGO Movie reviews:

70607 NINJAGO City Chase

70608 Master Falls

70609 Manta Ray Bomber

70610 Flying Jelly Sub

70611 Water Strider

70612 Green Ninja Mech Dragon

70613 Garma Mecha Man

70614 Lightning Jet

70615 Fire Mech

70616 Ice Tank

70617 Temple of the Ultimate Ultimate Weapon

70618 Destiny’s Bounty

Author Profile

Daniel
When I was 3 years old my dad bought home 6659 TV Camera Crew as a gift — he had no idea what he had just unleashed. Three decades and no dark age later, I am still going strong. My love of LEGO led me to a career in Civil Engineering and I am now raising three budding LEGO lovers with my lovely wife who is, bless her, a huge supporter of my brick addiction. When not writing for Brick Fanatics or fulfilling my duties as the U.S. Editor of Blocks Magazine I enjoy collecting, MOCing, exhibiting, as well as running, climbing and home improvement.

Daniel

When I was 3 years old my dad bought home 6659 TV Camera Crew as a gift — he had no idea what he had just unleashed. Three decades and no dark age later, I am still going strong. My love of LEGO led me to a career in Civil Engineering and I am now raising three budding LEGO lovers with my lovely wife who is, bless her, a huge supporter of my brick addiction. When not writing for Brick Fanatics or fulfilling my duties as the U.S. Editor of Blocks Magazine I enjoy collecting, MOCing, exhibiting, as well as running, climbing and home improvement.

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